CDC: Costco chicken salad linked to E. coli outbreak

ATLANTA – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention along with the US Dept. of Agriculture and several states are investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 that has sickened 19 individuals in seven states. So far, five individuals have been hospitalized and two case patients developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure.

Public health officials said epidemiologic evidence suggests that rotisserie chicken salad made and sold in Costco Wholesale stores in several states is a likely source of the outbreak. CDC said 14 of 16 people purchased or ate the Costco chicken salad in the week before illness onset. The specific ingredient behind the illnesses has not been identified.

Ill people have been identified in California, Colorado, Missouri, Montana, Utah, Virginia and Washington.